Some of the most interesting new features in iOS 16 were not mentioned on stage. Here we list it for you.
You’ve probably set up your Lock Screen, changed your battery indicator, and maybe even set up a Focus or two now that you’ve had a week to play with iOS 16. However, there are numerous minor details that you may have overlooked that are just as important as the major ones. Here are 16 that you may have missed.
Support for Switch controllers (and others)
iOS 16 includes official support for several new Bluetooth game controllers, including Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons and Pro Controllers, giving you even more options when playing games. This support is also available for tvOS and iPadOS.
Locked folders in Photos
As an added privacy measure, the Hidden and Recently Deleted folders in Photos are now locked by default so that they are not accidentally discovered. You gain access to them by entering your iPhone login credentials (Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode).
SharePlay notifications
This isn’t a common issue, but when you share your screen, Apple automatically disables notifications so that the people watching your screen can’t see them. There’s a new Screen Sharing option in the Notifications settings, with a toggle to Allow notifications while using SharePlay or Screen Mirroring.
Duplicate photo detection
In the Photos app’s Albums view, there’s a new Duplicates option in Utilities that finds identical images and lets you merge them, combining captions, keywords, and favorites into the duplicate image with the highest quality. So you can now keep your photo library a little more organized.
Lock screen notification layouts
Apple’s slick new lock screen includes a new way to receive notifications in a stack, but it’s not the only one. You can choose between a list view, which covers up your fancy lock screen, and a single banner with a counter, which keeps everything neat and tidy.
More offline Siri functions
Speaking of Siri, if you have an iPhone 12 or later, it will be able to perform even more tasks offline than before. The majority of Home Control, Intercom, and Voicemail functions will work without sending anything to Apple. To communicate with your HomeKit hub, for example, you obviously need a network connection, but all processing takes place on your iPhone and nothing goes beyond your local network.
See your Wi-Fi passwords
You can finally see the passwords for your saved Wi-Fi networks in plain text with iOS 16! You can then easily copy it to the clipboard and share it as needed. Or simply see it to read it aloud to a friend who doesn’t have access to Apple’s usual seamless Wi-Fi sharing.
Simply go to Settings and then Wi-Fi. Tap the info button (i) next to the Wi-Fi network for which you want to obtain the password. This will bring you to a screen with a variety of options and information. The Password field will display dots instead of the password, but simply tap it, and your iPhone will authenticate you with Face ID or Touch ID and display the password in plain text, with a prompt to Copy it if desired.
Hang up with Siri
Speaking of Siri, you can now end a phone or FaceTime call with her. It’s strange that it took this long. Sure, the other person will hear you say it, but what does it matter?
Better portrait blurring
If you have an iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Pro, you will noticeably improve your bokeh. Objects in the middle of the photo in front of the subject—will be blurred in portrait shots. In Cinematic mode videos, the depth-of-field effect is more accurate around objects such as hair and glasses. And we’re still impressed by the on-the-fly cutouts it performs on lock screen photos.
Remove more Apple apps
Since iOS 10, we’ve been able to remove some of Apple’s pre-installed apps, and iOS 16 has added three more: Find My, Clock, and Health. However, Apple notes that some built-in Find My features will continue to function and that some Apple Watch features may be impacted.
Landscape Face ID
Face ID has only worked in portrait orientation since the iPhone X, making it difficult to use if you were holding your phone sideways. With iOS 16, this is no longer the case. Nothing needs to be turned on, but it will only work if you have an iPhone 13 or 14.
Haptic keyboard support
The built-in iOS 16 keyboard now supports haptic feedback as you type, eliminating those annoying keyboard clicks, making it feel more natural to tap the glass. Unfortunately, it does not appear to be coming to the iPad anytime soon.
Stop accidentally ending calls
If you’ve ever accidentally ended a phone call by pressing the power button, iOS 16 has a fix for you. Go to Settings, then Accessibility, then Touch, and then Prevent Lock to End Call. Calls will now end only when you press the End call button or the person on the other end hangs up.
iCloud+ improvements
In iOS 16, the Hide My Email and custom email domain features of iCloud+ become a little more useful. Hide My Email is directly integrated into QuickType keyboard suggestions, so it should always be accessible in thirdparty apps. Furthermore, your custom domain can be shared with people who are not members of your Family Sharing group. You can purchase a new domain and enable catchall aliases directly from the iCloud Mail settings.
AirPods quick settings
In iOS 16, Apple has finally made it easier to manage our AirPods, in addition to custom Spatial Audio. When your AirPods are connected, you’ll notice a new tab under your iCloud name in Settings. Tap it, and you’ll be taken directly to your earbuds’ settings.
Better Memoji
We like Memoji, what can we say? And in iOS 16, they’ll see a number of significant enhancements. There are more sticker poses available, and all of them can be used as your contact image. There are 17 new and updated hairstyles, as well as more headwear, noses, and neutral lip colours. Making your Memoji match your look and style should be easier than ever.
Source :
Cross, J. (2022, September 19). 16 hidden IOS 16 features you need to find! Macworld. Retrieved September 20, 2022, from https://www.macworld.com/article/782950/ios-16-hidden-features-settings.html
Read more:
